1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
The play revolves around 7 sisters and one's adopted daughter. The only male character in the play is Nanabush, a trickster god. The characters names are Pelajia, Philomena, Marie-Adele, Annie Cook, Emily Dictionary, Veronique St. Pierre, and Zhaboonigan. The play takes place on the Wasaychigan Native Reserve in Ontario, Canada. The year is 1986.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion of the play occurs when Annie Cook hears from her daughter about the biggest bingo in the world and tells everyone about it. This is the intrusion because it sets into motion all of the following action of the play and motivates the characters to fulfill their desires, be it a big white toilet or getting off of the reserve.
3. What is the unique factor?
This is the day that Annie Cook hears about the biggest Bingo in to world and the sisters decide to go.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
The dramatic question of the play is 1) will they make it to the bingo, 2) who and how much will they win, and 3) will they be able to fulfill their desires in the end?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
An example of the first kind of exposition is when Zhaboonigan asks Marie-Adele "How's your cancer?". This information is know to everyone even Zhaboonigan and this interaction is there to inform the audience. An example of the second kind of exposition is when Marie-Adele is talking to the bird. Only she and later Zhaboonigan) have the knowledge that the bird is something more.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
The most theatrical moment in the play is at the bingo game when Maire-Adele dies, dancing in the arms of the bingomaster/Nanabush.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
The theme of this play include sisterhood, friendship, family, domestic abuse, sexuality, religion, death, illness, adoption, sexual abuse, escape, materialism, work, and love.
8. What does the chief character want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of her getting what she wants?
In an ensemble cast such as this it is hard to determine exactly who is the chief character but Pelajia wants to leave the rez and what stops her is a sense of entrapment from either herself or her community. Philomena wants a big porcelain toilet, but has no money. Annie Cook wants to be a back up singer, but is only a wannabe at the beginning of the play. And these charters and the rest excluding Nanabush all want to go to the biggest bingo in the world but are stopped by a lack of money, their chief who wouldn't loan it to them, a flat tire, and Marie-Adele collapsing.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
One strong image in the play is of Nanabush. In the beginning of the play he was depicted as a white seagull. Things were safe and the stasis had not yet been broken. Yet as the play progressed he became a dark nighthawk, an eerie sign of the climax of the play in which Marie-Adele dies. This image is repeated once more as Nanabush takes the form of the bingomaster. The trickster god danced with Marie-Adele and she died in his arms. This helps us to understand the title of the play by showing their connections to the reservation even when they are off of it, and how deeply ingrained it is in the sisters.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
The family relationships that are examined in this play are that of sisters and to a lesser extent, children. The sister bond is explored in many different ways including, half-sisters, full sisters, and sisters-in-law. However in this play the legality of half or full sisters melted away and by the end they treated each other and loved each other as complete sisters. The mother-daughter relationship that is explored is that of an adoptive form. This, like the sister, really doesn't matter all that much as they love each other all the same.
The play revolves around 7 sisters and one's adopted daughter. The only male character in the play is Nanabush, a trickster god. The characters names are Pelajia, Philomena, Marie-Adele, Annie Cook, Emily Dictionary, Veronique St. Pierre, and Zhaboonigan. The play takes place on the Wasaychigan Native Reserve in Ontario, Canada. The year is 1986.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion of the play occurs when Annie Cook hears from her daughter about the biggest bingo in the world and tells everyone about it. This is the intrusion because it sets into motion all of the following action of the play and motivates the characters to fulfill their desires, be it a big white toilet or getting off of the reserve.
3. What is the unique factor?
This is the day that Annie Cook hears about the biggest Bingo in to world and the sisters decide to go.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
The dramatic question of the play is 1) will they make it to the bingo, 2) who and how much will they win, and 3) will they be able to fulfill their desires in the end?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
An example of the first kind of exposition is when Zhaboonigan asks Marie-Adele "How's your cancer?". This information is know to everyone even Zhaboonigan and this interaction is there to inform the audience. An example of the second kind of exposition is when Marie-Adele is talking to the bird. Only she and later Zhaboonigan) have the knowledge that the bird is something more.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
The most theatrical moment in the play is at the bingo game when Maire-Adele dies, dancing in the arms of the bingomaster/Nanabush.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
The theme of this play include sisterhood, friendship, family, domestic abuse, sexuality, religion, death, illness, adoption, sexual abuse, escape, materialism, work, and love.
8. What does the chief character want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of her getting what she wants?
In an ensemble cast such as this it is hard to determine exactly who is the chief character but Pelajia wants to leave the rez and what stops her is a sense of entrapment from either herself or her community. Philomena wants a big porcelain toilet, but has no money. Annie Cook wants to be a back up singer, but is only a wannabe at the beginning of the play. And these charters and the rest excluding Nanabush all want to go to the biggest bingo in the world but are stopped by a lack of money, their chief who wouldn't loan it to them, a flat tire, and Marie-Adele collapsing.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
One strong image in the play is of Nanabush. In the beginning of the play he was depicted as a white seagull. Things were safe and the stasis had not yet been broken. Yet as the play progressed he became a dark nighthawk, an eerie sign of the climax of the play in which Marie-Adele dies. This image is repeated once more as Nanabush takes the form of the bingomaster. The trickster god danced with Marie-Adele and she died in his arms. This helps us to understand the title of the play by showing their connections to the reservation even when they are off of it, and how deeply ingrained it is in the sisters.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
The family relationships that are examined in this play are that of sisters and to a lesser extent, children. The sister bond is explored in many different ways including, half-sisters, full sisters, and sisters-in-law. However in this play the legality of half or full sisters melted away and by the end they treated each other and loved each other as complete sisters. The mother-daughter relationship that is explored is that of an adoptive form. This, like the sister, really doesn't matter all that much as they love each other all the same.